Screen pinning, auto data, do not disturb, orange bars – Android 5

There are things about a new version of Android that are almost never officially released by Google. They are “small details” that you only find out when you start to explore that new version on a device. For many users, these small details often turn out to be much more interesting than the main changes announced by Google itself. They can be decisive when it comes to wanting to update to that new version of Android or waiting to buy a device that comes with that new system.

Below you can see the list of those “little details” added in the new version Android 5.0 Lollipop. It is a compilation of the first details that begin to come to light thanks to the first tests with this system released by enthusiastic users on the subject, on websites such as Reddit and XDA-Developers.

1. Lock your phone in a single app before lending it to a friend: Only one application can be used while this “Screen Pinning” or “Screen Pinning” functionality is active. Incredibly useful in case you have to lend the phone to someone who wants to play a game, use an application, make a call or send an SMS. You can only do one of these things at a time, without the possibility of browsing private things on the device. If you try, the system lock screen will pop into view, depriving you of this option.

2. Automatic activation of Mobile Data when there is no Internet via Wifi: If there is no internet access via Wifi, the system automatically switches to the Mobile Data connection to stay connected. In addition, when there are connection problems both via Wi-Fi or mobile data, the system will now show an exclamation mark (!) Next to the respective icon, to indicate that there is a problem with the connection.

3. Disable notifications so as not to be disturbed: Something like putting the phone in “Do not disturb” mode. This feature allows you to disable all notifications generated by applications for a period of time or indefinitely. You can also configure that only important notifications are shown. Basically, this is done by choosing “priority apps” that will be able to display notifications for a period of time. The device will display a star icon in the status bar indicating that it is in this mode.

4. Orange status and navigation bars to alert that “Battery saving mode” is active : The battery saving mode can be activated when the battery is low, to give extra minutes of life to the device, by canceling applications and tasks that are not important. When activating this mode, the system will turn the navigation and status bar (the upper and lower bars) in orange, as an alert that this mode is active (which would imply that the battery is low). This coloration of both bars is maintained in any open application.

5. Copy the data from your old Android to a new one: If you bought a new Android and want to move data from your “old” phone to your new one, now you can do so with a “new” feature in Android 5.0 that allows you to restore data from a specific device to your account and select individual apps from that device, a function that appears in the initial configuration of the device. Basically with this feature you will be able to copy the data from your old phone to a new one and choose which applications from the old device you want to restore to the new one (which must have Android 5.0, obviously).

6. Chrome tabs on Recent Apps screen: Pressing the box button in the navigation bar of Android 5.0 is when recently used applications appear. In this new version of Android, Chrome’s open tabs will also appear here. With many tabs open this can be a problem finding recent applications. Fortunately, this feature can be disabled in the Google Chrome settings, “Combine tabs and applications” option.

7. Switch to activate the flashlight available in the Quick Settings menu: The quick settings are those that appear when you slide the status bar or Android notifications, where the switch appears to activate or deactivate Wi-Fi, data, bluetooth, etc. In Android Lollipop a switch is added right there to activate and deactivate the flash of the device, if it has one.

8. NEW! Guest mode: This is the mode you want to activate for when you have to lend the mobile to a family member, friend or acquaintance. Basically, the person receives a clean phone, without saved data, and there they can synchronize their contacts, their photos and even download applications from Google Play. Once it is done doing what it needs to do, you can delete everything you have saved in this guest mode. All your data is never accessible to this person.

9. NEW! Screen light according to the amount of ambient light: This feature called “Adaptive Light”, an exclusive feature of the Moto X, is also available in Android 5.0. Adjusts the screen light according to the amount of ambient light. At night, for example, this would reduce the light from the screen to a minimum to avoid causing a negative impact on the eyes.

10. Battery percentage appears when you slide the status bar: Apparently only appears when lowering the notification bar in Android 5.0. There is no native option so that it is always visible on the same battery icon. This could be possible only with extra applications available on the Play Store.

11. 2-Step Google Verification FULLY integrated into the system: In previous versions of Android, when you tried to enter an application with a Google account that had two-step verification activated, there were two problems: the process was sent to load in the default browser and, additionally, you had to enter the account password there (having already entered this data the first time in the application). This is fully integrated into Android 5.0, which means that now the data entry is done only once and the process is done on the same screen of the application you are in (including the entry of the verification code).

12. Recent apps are not deleted when restarting the device: The recent apps screen that appears when you press the box button on the navigation bar in Android 5.0 will keep the list of recently used apps, even if the device is rebooted. We assume this will work the same way, even if the phone turns it back on after being off for a certain amount of time.

13. System share menu prioritizes the most used destinations: If you tend to share things on Facebook, in Android 5.0 Lollipop the system’s Share menu will now show you the Facebook option at the top of the list of available sharing applications.

14. Faster and less invasive face unlocking– In theory, now the face unlock detects the owner’s face in less than a second. In addition, the face detection process is no longer displayed in full screen, but only in the form of a small icon at the bottom of the screen.

15. Know which application generated a notification, by pressing and holding on it: When a notification appears in the status bar, you can now see which application generated that notification by pressing and holding on that notification.

16. Clock app wallpaper changes color based on time of day: For example, it will be blue at noon and black at night. This only applies to the Android 5.0 native clock app.

Added to all these “hidden” new features in Android 5.0 Lollipop are multi-user support, the OK Google function with screen off, the fantastic battery saving mode and the option to wake up when picking up the phone.

Note: All these features have been seen in the “Preview” version of Android 5.0 Lollipop. They are expected to be confirmed in the final version of the system, which appears to be released in November.